davis



Feb. 27,1940. b v s, JR 2,191,456

KNITTED FABRIC Filed Feb. 24, 1938 v 6Sheets-Sheert 2 MN v NW nu 5E3 Nik 53W ATTORNEY R. E. DAVIS, JR

Feb. 27, 1940.

KNITTED FABRIC Filed Feb. 24. 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Feb.27, 1940. ,E ,JR 2,191,456

KNITTED FABRIC Filed Feb; 24, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 I. QLQLL-QLQQQQQQLLQQQLLFQL QQLQQQMLFQQFQLLFQLLQLLQL LIJLIJLIJLIALIJLIAL ATTORNEY Feb. 27, 1940. v s, 2,191,456

KNITTED FABRIC 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 24, 1938 my: oR W ATTORNEY 2 n y 2 g 4gpf 0;; 7JH f W .y

U K K) K) Feb. 27,v 1940. b v s JR 2,191,456

KNITTED FABRIC Filed Feb. 24, 1938 e Sheets-Sheet a @9121. @ig-za Patented Feb. 27, 1940 I *d'ras PAM OFFICE.

TE'EED FABRIQ Robert Evan Davis, in, Fort Payne, Ala, as-

signor to interwoven Stocking Company, New Brunswick, hi. 3., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 24, 1938, Serial No. 192,230

22 Claims. (Cl. 66-172) My invention consists in the novel features taining it straightening out in the fabric by hereinafter described, reference being bad to the reason of the tension under which the elastic accompanying drawings which illustrate two emthread is fed, and tending to bring together the bodiments of the same, selected by me for purpreceding and succeeding courses formed entirely poses of illustration, and the said invention is of body thread, and thus forming horizontally 5 fully disclosed in the following description and separated annular beads on the inner face of the claims. fabric. These horizontal beads tend to impress In the manufacture of plain knit hosiery, and themselves into the skin of the wearer when the particularly in the manufacture of socks and stocking is worn, and being separated over such .0 anklets, it has been customary for many years toa large area, will support the top firmly on the provide the upper part of 'the leg portion with leg and hold the leg of the stocking against any what is termed a top formed of rib knitting tendency towork downwards without inconvenof several inches in length, in order to provide ience or discomfort to the wearer. My improved a form fitting effect, the tubular rib knit portion stocking, therefore, provides a form fitting top of having a smaller diameter and much greater elasdiameter smaller than that of the leg of the stockl5v ticity than the plain knit fabric forming the main ing and sufliciently elastic to permit the stocking portion of the leg and containing the same numto be drawn on over the heel, and also provides ber of stitches in the consecutive courses. This a self-supporting function, which enables it to be ordinarily necessitated knitting the rib tops on a worn without garters or other extraneous suprib knitting machine of some kind, thentransports. 20

ferring the last row of stitches of the rib top to My improved processcan be carried out and my the single circular series ofneedles. of a plain improved stocking and fabric can be produced by knitting machine, and th k t n the le heel, hand, but it is ordinarily carried out by a circular foot and toe of the stocking. This transfer inknitting machine, preferably what is termed a volved the employment of highly skilled labor stocking knitter, and the successive courses of the 5 and added materially to the expense of the goods. top, leg and foot of the stocking may be formed The object of my invention is to produce on of a plurality of courses knit simultaneously at a single machine, that is a. plain knitting maa single revolution of the machine, or it may be chine, by continuous operation, an entire stock-; formed by a plurality of successive courses, each mg having a top of reduced diameter, obtained knit by a single revolution of the machine, as may 30 by forming stitches or wales on less than all of be preferred. Where multiple course knitting is the needles, and preferably on every other needle employed, the knitting machine will be provided of the circular se s. and by t incorp rat on with a plurality of knitting cams located at difof an elastic j of rubber the Well known ferent positions around the needle cylinder, each Lastex in certam of the courses of m' having associated with it mechanism for feeding 35 fi igi s gi gzg iigfi g fi g gi a thread or threads separately during a single from the knitting needlesf the elgst ic th a d xvill the machmef kmmng cams having associated with it a feedlng finger draw the adjacent .wales so formed on the alf f edi th 1 thre d which ma be ternate needles into juxtaposition to produce a or 6 ng e e as m a 40 smooth faced plain knit fabric of much less diamthrown into and out of operatmn as well as eter than the plain. knit fabric knit on all the similarlthmad feeding finger Q the WW needles of the Same .machme said Stocking haw threads, and the fabric produced in this manner mg t leg and foot formed of muses of stitches will be formed of successive courses, the stitches equal i number t t number of le i the of each of which will be knit into the stitches of. machine and knit together with the heel and too a pr d g a d su c din course formed of a pockets in the usual manner and integral with different thread. Where my invention is carried the top of reduced diamete The elastic thread out by singlecourse knitting w h a in le knits n or orat d in th top by knitting it on th ting cam, all of the consecutive courses except so selected needles, less than the entire number, and those courses in the top. which are formed of elaspreferably every other needle, upon which the tie thread,'will ordinarily contain stitches formed top is formed, in selected courses of the top, spaced from the same thread or threads, it being underfrom each other by intervening courses which stood that, in either case the feed fingers may be do not contain the elastic thread, the elastic provided in multiple to permit the substitutionv 5: thread in the stitches of the several coursesconof thread; of different colors or of different mahereinafter described, are formed only on the a feed fingers, for convenience in describing the process and product, This machine is the well known Banner machine manufactured by the Hemphill Company of Pawtucket, R. 1., with certain changes and modifications fully disclosed in my companion application, the details of which are not necessary to an understanding of my present invention.

As indicated in Figs. 7 to 8a., the needles are divided in the usual manner into those having short butts, indicated at la in Figs. 7 and 7a, and those having long butts, indicatedat 8a in Figs. 8 and 8a, the short butt needles extending half way around the cylinder and cooperating with the usual picker mechanism to effect narrowing and widening. Certain of the long butt needles, as well as the short butt needles are provided above the butt with a shoulder, as indicated at lb and 8b in Figs. 7 and 8, which are of less length in a radial direction than the needle butts la and do. I prefer to place these shouldered needles and plain needles, both of the long butt and short -butt series, alternately in the cylinder; although I do not wish to be limited to that arrangement. The cam ring, indicated at H in Fig. 6, is provided with a main knitting cam mechanism of ordinary form, comprising the knitting cam 9 and the associated cam elements 9a, 9b, 90, for actuating the needles during both circular and reciprocating work, in a well known way, and the cam ring is further provided in this instance .with three auxiliary knitting cams I8, l9 and 20, arranged at different points around the needle circle, as indicated for example in Fig. 2. Each of the auxiliary cams is movable into and out of I operative position, preferably in radial directions. although this is not essentiaL- Associated with the main knitting cam, which is located adjacent to the throat plate, are the usual plurality of thread feed fingers, one of which is indicated at III, which is adapted'to feed the elastic thread i to the hooks of the selected or non-shouldered alternate needles when they are raised above the adjacent needles. The elastic thread is fed to the finger ill and to the needles under appreciable tension, sufficient to draw together the wales of the fabric which, as will be selected alternate needles. Any suitable form of tension device may be employed, and I have not herein shown .any particular device for that purpose. The usual form of friction plates-held together by a spring capable of adjustment may be employed. The needle selection is effected by the main knitting cam, which is in position to engage the shoulders of the non-selected needles and the butts of the selected needles, which will necessarily draw down the non-selected or shouldered needles below the position occupied by the selected needles at the feeding point, as clearly indicated in Fig. 6. At the throat there'is also provided one or more thread guides for body thread, one of which is indicated at l2 for feeding a body thread, indicated at la, to all of the needles at a lower level than that of the finger 10 when in operative position, the operative position of finger I! being indicated in dotted lines. These thread fingers Ill and I: are independently movable into and out of operation, and when one For convenience of description I have indicated in Fig. 6 the main knitting cam and associated thread feed fingersas knitting station No. 1. The

auxiliary knitting cams l8, l9 and 20 when in operative position do not project inwardly far enough to operatively engage the shoulders lb,

. 8b, but will engage the butts of both long and short needles and will operate all needles in the same manner. In association with auxiliary cam l8, there is provided a thread finger 2! for feed ing inelastic or body thread 2 to all of the needles and constituting with. the knitting cam i8 knitting station No. 2. The auxiliary knitting cam I9 is provided with an associated thread feed finger 22 for feeding a body thread 3 to all the needles and constitutes with the cam 19, knitting station No. 3. Associated with knitting cam'it is a thread feed finger 23 for feeding abody thread i to all of the needles and constituting, together with the cam 20, knitting station No. 4. Means (not shown) are provided in connection with each-of the auxiliary knitting cams for throwing said cams and their associated thread feeding means simultaneously into and out ofoperative position.- While I have shown in Fig. 6 only one thread feed finger for body thread at each knitting station, it will be understood that additional thread fingers may be provided carrying body threads of different colors or of different character for purposes of striping or reinforcing, as.

courses of stitches with the body threads 2, 3 and.

4 have been formed and that the stitches of body thread 4 are held on each of the needles as they approach the first knitting station. -At this point the draw-down portions of the main knitting cam will engage the shoulders of the non-selected needles and draw them down to a greater extent than the selected non-shouldered needles, the

books of which will therefore be in a higher plane at the feed point adjacent to their feed finger l0 than the hooks of the intervening non-selected needles. The selected alternate needles .will receive theelastic thread I, thread finger i2 being in inoperative position as shown in Fig. 6, and the selected needles only will draw down loops of elastic thread I through the stitches of the preceding course formed of body thread 4, as indicated in Fig. 10, while the non-selected needles which do not receive the elastic thread i will cast on their loops of thread 4, which will therefore unravel and straighten out, together with the corresponding loops of the preceding courses formed by body threads 3 and 2, forming floats. as clearly indicated in Fig. 11, between the wales formed by the selected needles. All the needles will then be raised as indicated in Fig. 11, before coming to knitting station No. 2, the selected needles, holding loops of elastic thread I and the intervening needles being bare, and all of. the needles will receive the body thread 2 from the thread guide 2|, and will be drawn down by the auxiliary knitting cam i8, as shown in Fig. 2. The selected needles will draw stitches of thread 2 through the stitches 0I'.the preceding course formed by the elastic thread I, -while the intervening needles will merely draw down the thread ing stitches of the thread 3 through the stitches of the preceding course and the intervening needles drawing stitches through the loops of thread 2 in the preceding course. The needles are then raised and pass to the fourth knitting station, where they receive the body thread 4 from thread feed finger 23, and are all draw down by the auxiliary knitting cam 20, the selected needles again drawing stitches of the thread 4 through the stitches of the preceding course and the intervening needles also drawing stitches of the body thread d through the stitches of the preceding course formed by body thread 3 The needles then pass to the first station again, as indicated in Fig. 9, where the selected needles are raised and only the selected needles receive the elastic thread I, and being drawn down as indicated in Fig. 10, the selected needles form alternate stitches of the elastic thread I, while the intervening needles cast on their stitches, permitting the corresponding stitches of the preceding courses to again unravel and form floats,

- as previously described, and the operation is repeated in every revolution of the machine, throughout the top.

From the foregoing explanation it will be seen that in knitting the top fabric, separated vertical wales will be formed by the selected or nonshouldered needles only, making the number of stitches in each course in this instance half the entire number of needles, and these wales will bev connected by horizontal floats produced by the unraveling of the intermediate stitches of body thread formed on the intervening needles, but permitted to revel out at each course of the clastic thread i, in the manner described.

The floats in every fourth course will be of the elasticthread I, and'as the elastic thread is fed under'suitable tension as the fabric leaves the needles, the separated wales will be drawn together at the elastic courses and also between the elastic courses, the reduced number of stitches in the fabric tending to elongate somewhat and take up portions of the floats of inelastic thread,.

and thus producing a plain knit fabric having a smooth outer face and composed of half the number of stitches in each course than would ordinarily be made if stitches had been formed by all the needles.

I term this fabric a tubular plain knit alternate drop stitch fabric as it is formed by alternate needles of the machine, the intervening stitches which have been formed are permitted to unravel or drop, and are therefore only rep resented by connecting floats in the fabric.

In the upper part at Fig. 18 I have shown, greatly magnified, the alternate drop stitch fabric as it would appear theoretically if it remained in the-condition in which it is knit. The tension of the elastic thread i, however, cames it to straighten out in the fabric, thus practically eliminating the loops formed by the elastic thread and distorting the stitches of the preceding and succeeding course formed of elastic thread, in the manner indicated in the u per part of Fig. 19. At the same time the tension of the elastic threadwili draw the fabric toarouse gether laterally, as before described, and produce a fabric of reduced diameter. Fig. 20 diagrammatically shows the drawing-in of the alternate drop stitch fabric laterally, so that the wales will be brought substantially as close together as adjacent wales of ordinary plain knitting, as shown at the top of said figure. This figure, as before stated, is merely diagrammatic, and shows the alternate drop stitch fabric forming the top of a stocking, united with a plain knit leg knit on all the needles with inelastic thread only, and this figure was drawn in this manner to illustratethe continuity'of the wales of the alternate drop stitch fabric top with the alternate wales of the plain knit leg. As a matter of fact, all of the wales of the alternate drop stitch fabric will be drawn close together when the fabric is. released from the needles, and this will naturally produce gathers or wrinkles in the plain knit leg fabric where they join the top, as indicated at 'a, in Fig. 1. In actual practice, the stitches of the alternate drop stitch fabric tend to enlarge slightly when the fabric is con tracted laterally by the elastic threads and shorten the intervening floated portions of the inelastic thread between the wales. In the courses pigeceding and succeeding the elastic thread, however, the distortion of the stitches by the straightening out of the elastic tends to overcome this tendency, but in any intermediate courses other than those with which the elastic thread is interknit the stitches will not be taken up vertically in this manner, and will result in somewhat elongated stitches which produce an ornamental lacy effect in the finished fabric.

Thus, in Fig. 20 for example, it will be noted with special reference to the upper portion of the figure, that the stitches formed by the threads 4 and 2' and indicated at s, will not be lengthened vertically, due to their interknitting with the elasticthread .I, while the stitches indicated at s, which are formed of the thread 3 and lie intermediate the courses formed by the threads 2 and 4, not coming into contact-with the elastic thread, become somewhat elongated and produce the lacy effect at intervals in the fabric above course so that no loops, will be caused to cast off and revel back, as clearly. shown in Fig. 1'7. In the next course formed by the thread 2 and auxiliary cam I8, the thread 2 will be drawn through each of the stitches of the preceding course, thus producing a complete course of stitches on all the needles, and the machine will continue to knit complete courses of stitches with threads 3 and 4 in a single revolutionof the cylinder, and thereafter courses of stitches in each revolution of the cylinder throughout the.

formation of the leg, if the auxiliary knitting cams are allowed to remain in operative position with respect to their respective feed fingers.

It will be obvious that the leg of the stocking can be knit by single courses of knitting with the thread la, by throwing out of operation all of the auxiliary cams and their-feed fingers, or-

which 'there will be only two threads, the elastic the leg may be knit by multiple course knitting with two courses formed simultaneously, by throwing out of operation two of the auxiliary knitting cams and their feed fingers, or the leg may be knit by multiple course knitting with three threads and the formation of three courses in each revolution of the machine by throwing out one of the auxiliary knitting cams and its associated feed finger, as may be preferred.

It will also be understood that when the heel pocket is reached, the auxiliary cams and their feed fingers if in use will be thrown out of operation andtheheel pocket will be knit by recipro eating knitting and narrowing and widening, in

the usual manner, with a single body thread, as

' the heel pocket.

If it is desired, where the leg and foot portions of the stocking are knit by multiple course knitting, the auxiliary knitting cam or cams may be thrown out of operation and one or more courses of single feed stitches may be formed before the heel pocket is knit, and at the conclusion of the heel pocket, and the usual toe joining band may be formed at the end of the foot portion adjacent to the toe pocket by singl course knitting, if desired.

It will be understood that the alternate drop stitch fabric which forms the top of the stocking may also be knit by single course knitting, in

which case courses formed of the elastic thread will be fed to the selected needles, that is to say the alternate needles only at knitting station 1, and the auxiliary cams and their feed guides I will be moved out of operative position. After a complete course of alternate stitches has been formed by the elastic thread, the feed of elastic thread is discontinued by throwing out of operation the feed finger i and the feed finger 52' is thrown into operation, to knit the intermediate courses of inelastic thread ta, which is fed to all the needles at a lower level than the feeding position of the finger it, as before explained. After the completion of the intervening courses, thread finger. I2 is thrown out of operation and finger l0 brought again into operation, to feed the elastic thread to alternate or selected needles, thereby causing the stitches of inelastic thread previously fed to the intervening needles to ravel back, in the manner previously described, so as to produce the alternate drop stitch fabric with the elastic thread in all the wales of separated or spaced courses.

The elastic thread courses may be separated at any desired number of courses, but I have found that a separation of three intervening courses of inelastic thread to be very satisfactory, and this also provides one course of elongated stitches to produce the lacy or open work effect previously referred to. r

In Fig. 3 I have shown, diagrammatically, the

- relation of the different threads in the multiple course alternate drop stitch fabric containing, as before described, the elastic thread I. and the inelastic threads 2, 3 and 4. In Fig. 5 I have shown a similar diagrammatic illustration-showing the relation of the threads in the alternate drop stitch fabric whenformed by single course knitting, in

'ciently and without the use of a garter.

thread I and the -inelastic thread la.

As before indicated, it will be obvious that the alternate drop stitch fabric forming the stocking top may be knit with threads of different colors to produce stripeefiects, which is especially facilitated where the fabric is formed by multiple course knitting, and by feeding different colored body yarns at the throat in the usual manner where it is formed by single course knitting. ,This alternate drop stitch fabric containing the spaced courses of stitches of elastic thread will obviously be of much less diameter than the leg portion B of the stocking and will constitute a form fitting top for the stocking. .It also has very great elasticity, imparted to it both by the courses of elastic thread and by the necessary looseness of the stitches provided by the fioats. where the stitches are dropped, so that it can be readily stretched the desired amount to pass it over the heel in drawing on a'sock. It is particularly suitable for the top of a short sock or anklet and for childrens socks and anklets, as will be readily tal effects are provided in part by the elongated stitches produced by intermediate courses of in ,elastic thread not interknit with the elastic thread as before described, as well as by striping and other effects produced by the use of coi= cred yarns. I

It will also be seen that the straightening of the elastic thread courses produces a series of spaced horizontal beads on the inner face of the fabric, as indicated at r in Fig. 1, which" will indent the skin of the leg or ankle very slightly so as to provide a self-supporting factor, which will hold the stocking, sock or anklet in position on the leg and prevent its slipping down much more em; These beads on the inner face of the top are under such light tension when in place on the leg that the wearer is not conscious of them, and experiences type.

It will be understood that in knitting the tubular plain knit alternate drop stitch fabric herein described constituting preferably the form-fitting and self-supporting top-of a stocking leg, that any desired thickness of the fabric can be obtained by knitting some or all of the courses formed of inelastic thread, of thread or yarns of desired diameter. Obviously the introduction of one or more heavy yarns will materially increase the. body or thickness of the fabric.

I wish it to be understood that in setting up the machine for the formation of my improved fabric or stocking top I may, in some instances, alternate the selected needles (not provided with the shoulders above the butts) to which the elastic thread ,is fed with two or more non-selected needles '(provided with the shoulders above the butts), if this is found desirable. In the following claims where I have used the expression altemate drop stitch fabric I include fabric in which the wales are separated a distance equal to a single drop stitch or a plurality of drop stitches.

In Fig. 21, for example, which is similar to Fig. 9, I have shown diagrammatically an arrangement of the knitting machine in which the selected needles receiving the elastic thread I alter- ,nate with two shouldered needles, which do not receive the elastic thread. all-the way around the circular series of needles. The operation of the machine will, however, be substantially as previouslyhescribed. By alternating the selected needles with one, twoor more non-selected needles the diameter of the fabric may be slightly varied, as will be readily understood.

In some instances it may be found desirable to feed an additional body thread, indicated at I in Figs. 23 to 25, inclusive, in plating relation with the elastic thread to the selected needles at knitting station No. 1, whether alternating with one or more non-selected needles. For this purpose I prefer to provide an auxiliary thread feed flnger, indicated at ilia, conveniently located between the previously described thread feed fingers l0 and II, for feeding the extrabody thread 5 to the selected needles only. This thread may be of the same or a diflerent color from the adjacent body threads as preferred. After the fabric leaves the needles, the elastic thread I will straighten out due to; the tension under which A it is fed, in the manner previously described. The

drawn over the heel and placed in proper position additional body thread I which will lie parallel'to the elastic thread will not be contracted, as will the elastic thread and will formloops iaprojecting slightly from the inner surface of the fabric and forming an ornamental eifect in each coursecontaining the elastic thread, which may be utilized advantageously where the top portion is folded outwardly upon itself, in the manner indicated in Fig. 25, as is customary especially in'infants socks and in anklets, and this ornamental effect is en'- hanced if the thread I is of contrasting color with the adjacent threads. Obviously the slack in the thread 5 will not be taken up by the straightening of the,elasti c thread, as will be the case with the stitches of the preceding and succeeding courses, but when the fabric is stretched in placing it over the leg these ornamental loops will straighten out and permit the stretching of the top to the necessary extent to permit it to be on the leg.

Where the top is made either of the form of fabric illustrateddn Fig. 1, for example, or in thread the stitches of which are connected by floats of materially greater length than the width of the needle wales and sinker wales which they Fig. 25, it can be folded outwardly upon itself, as indicated iniFig. 25, in which case the horizontal beadsr crime exterior fold of the fabric will be brought to the outer face thereof and will contribute an ornamental effect to the fold, while the ribs 1- on the remaining inner fold of the fabric and on the inner face thereof will eng the skin of the wearer and hold the stocking in place on the leg in the manner previously described.

It will be seen that in'my improved fabric the drop -stitch fabric, or as it may be referred to as a ravel stitch fabric, distinguishes clearly from the float thread fabrics, sometimes inaccurately called drop stitch fabrics in which certain needles are thrown out of operation and fioats of the knitting thread are drawn straight across between the contiguous stitches, for the purpose of producing an imitation rib fabric of smaller dia I eter than would be the case if the thread were knit to form a stitch on each needle. In such" mock rib fabrics, each float is of substantially the same length as the width of'the needle wales, and sinker wales, which it displaces and the fabric has very little stretch laterally, and practically none longitudinally.

arenas the needle wales and sinker wales which it displaces because the stitches of the displaced wales are actually formed, and then unraveled'with the result that the full amount of thread is fed which would be required to form complete courses of stitches, so that were it not for the courses knit with elastic thread the resulting fabric would have a greater diameter than the normal diameter of the fabric would have if each course contained 4 the complete number of consecutive stitches corresponding with the number of needles of the knitting machine. This additional length of thread in each float which is approximately fifty per cent more than the width of the needle wales and sinker wales it displaces obviously provides the fabric with a much greater capacity to stretch laterally, or in other words to increase its diameter, than regular plain lmit fabric, so as to readily permit it to be drawn over the heel where used in the. toe of a stocking as here shown.

In the case of the spaced courses formed of elastic thread, said elastic thread is knit only by spaced selected needles and is not knit by intervening needles and unraveled as is the inelastic thread. The elastic courses draw the enlarged fabric 'together bringing the contiguous wales alongside of each other and slackening the floats of the inelastic thread courses and thus produces a smooth fabric having a much smaller number of stitches than regular plain knitting. Furthermore, as the stitches of elastic thread interlock with stitches formedof inelastic thread in the preceding and succeeding courses, the stitches of elastic thread will straighten out and thereby bring the preceding and succeeding course closer to the elastic thread course as shown and described and this permits the resulting fabric to be stretched longitudinally to a very great extent insome instances nearly one hundred per cent of its normal length when not under distension in either direction, as will be readily understood.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tubular plain knit alternate drop stitch fabric comprising courses composed of inelastic floats of materially greater length than the width of the needle wales and sinker wales which they displace and having spaced courses composed entirely of elastic thread under sufficient tension to straighten out the stitches of said elastic threadcourse, and draw the adjacent wales of said alternate dropstitch fabric into close proximity to reduce the diameter of the fabric and produce a smooth exterior surface, the elastic thread projecting on the inner face of the fabric and forming a series of spiral beads to support the fabric against longitudinal movement on a body, member.

3. A tubular plain knit alternate drop stitchfabric comprising courses composed of inelastic thread the stitches of which are connected by floats of materially greater length than the width of the needle wales and sinker wales which they displace and having spaced courses composed entirely of elastic thread the stitches of which are connected by floats of a length substantially the same as the width of the needle wales and sinker wales which they displace, said elastic thread under sufficient tension to draw the adjacent wales of said alternate drop stitch fabric into close proximity to reduce the diameter of the fabric and produce a smooth exterior surface, the stitches of the elastic thread courses being interknit with the stitches of a preceding and succeeding course of non-elastic thread, and the elastic thread being straightened out and thereby distorting the stitches of said preceding and suc-' ceeding courses and drawing them into 'close relation in the fabric.

4. A tubular plain knit alternate drop stitch fabric comprising coursescomposed of inelastic thread the stitches of which are connected by floats of materially greater length than the width of the needle wales and sinker wales which they displace and having spaced courses composed entirely of elastic thread the. stitches of which are connected by floats of a'length substantially the same as the width of the needle wales and sinker wales which they displace, said elastic thread under suihcient tension to draw the adjacent wales of said alternate drop stitch fabric into close proximity to reduce the diameter of the fabric and produce a smooth exterior surface, the stitches of the elastic thread courses being interknit with, the stitches of a preceding and succeeding course of non-elastic thread, and the elastic thread being straightened out and thereby distorting the stitches of said preceding and succeeding courses and drawing them intoclose relation in the fabric, said fabric having additional undistorted courses of stitches, of inelastic thread, between the courses which are interknit with the elastic thread and which produce an ornamental open work eiiect.

5. A stocking having a tubular plain knit alternate drop stitch top comprising courses composed of inelastic thread the stitches of which are connected by floats of substantially the same length as the length of yarn in the needle wales and sinker wales which they displace and spaced courses composed entirely of elastic thread under tension sufilcient to straighten out the stitches of said elastic course and draw the adjacent wales of said alternate drop stitch fabric into close proximity to reduce the diameter of the fabric andproduce a smooth exterior surface',,and an integral leg portion of plain knitting formed of inelastic thread having a materially greater number of stitches in each course as the courses of the top, alternate wales of said leg portion being continuous with wales of the alternate dropstitch top.

6. A stocking having a tubular plain knit alternate drop stitch top comprising courses composed of inelastic thread the stitches of which are connected by floats of substantially the same wales ofsaid leg portion being continuous with wales of the alternate drop stitch top. the elastic I I length as the length of yarn in the needle wales fand sinker wales which they displace and spaced courses composed entirely of elastic thread under sufficient tension to straighten out the stitches of said elastic course, and draw the adjacent wales of said alternate drop stitch fabric into close proximity to reduce the diameter of the fabric and produce a smooth exterior surface, and an integral leg portion of plain knitting formed of inelastic thread having twice the number of stitches in each course as the courses of the top, alternate wales of said leg portion being continuous with wales of the alternate drop stitch top, the stitches of said-elastic thread courses of the top being interknit with the stitches of a preceding and succeeding course of non-elastic thread which are distorted by the straightening of the elastic thread to bring said interknit inelastic courses into close proximity.

8. A stocking having a tubular plain knit alternate drop stitch top comprising courses composed of inelasticthread the stitches of which are connected by floats of substantially the same length as the length of yarn in the needle-wales and sinker wales which they displace and spaced and produce a smooth exterior surface, and an integral leg portion of plain knitting formed of inelastic thread having twice the number of stitches in each course as the courses of the top, alternate wales of said leg portion being continuous with wales of the alternate drop stitch top, the stitches of said elastic; thread courses of the top being interknlt with the stitches of a preceding and succeeding course of non-elastic thread which aredistortedby the straightening of the elastic thread to bring said interknit inelastic courses into close proximity, and said top having additional alternate drop stitch courses of inelastic thread between said preceding and succeeding courses-which are undistorted and produce an open work efl'ect.

9.A tubular plain knit alternate drop stitch.

fabric comprising courses composed of inelastic thread the stitches of which are connected by floats of materially greater length than the width of the needle wales and sinker wales which they displace and spaced courses composed entirely of elastic thread under sufiicient tension to straighten out the stitches of said elastic thread course, and draw the wales of said drop stitch fabric into close proxiinityto reduce the diameter of the fabric and produce a smooth exterior surface, the stitches of each course of said fabric being interknit with a preceding course and a succeeding course formed of a different thread 10. A tubular plain knit alternate drop stitch fabric comprising courses composed of inelastic (ill thread the stitches of which are connected by floats of materially greater length than the width of the needle wales and sinker wales which they displace and spaced courses composed entirely of elastic thread the stitches of which are connected by floats of a length substantially the same as the width of the needle wales and sinker wales which they displace, said elastic thread being under sufllcient tension to draw the wales of said drop stitch fabric into close proximity to reduce the diameter of the fabric and produce a smooth exterior surface, the stitches of each course of '7 said fabric being interknit with a preceding course and a succeeding course formed of a different thread, the elastic thread projecting on the inner face'of the fabric and forming a series of spiral beads to hold the fabric from longitudinal movement on a body member.

11. A tubular plain knit alternate drop stitch fabric comprising courses composed of inelastic thread the stitches of which are connected by floats of materially greater length than the width .of the needle wales and sinker wales which they displace and spaced courses composed entirely of elastic thread the stitches of which are connected by floats of a length substantially the same as the width of the needle wales and sinker wales which are connected by same as the-width of the ne proximity to reduce they displace, said elastic thread being under suflicient tension to straighten out the stitches of said elastic thread course. and draw the wales of said drop stitch fabric 'into close proximity to reduce the diametcr'of the fabric and produce a smooth exterior surface, the stitches of each course of said fabric being interknit with a pre-' ceding course and a succeeding course formed of a different thread, the stitches of the elastic thread courses being interknit withthe stitches of a preceding and succeeding course of inelastic,

thread which are distorted by the straightening of the elastic thread and thereby brought into wales which they and produce a smooth exterior surface, the stitches of each course of said fabric being interknit with a'preceding course and a succeedin course formed of a different thread, the stitches of the elastic threadcourses being interknit with the stitches'of a preceding and succeeding course of inelastic thread which are distorted by the straightening of the elastic thread and thereby brought into close relation, said fabric having additional courses of stitches of inelastic thread between the courses interknit with the elastic thread and produce an open work fabric.

13. A stocking having a tubular plain knit alternate drop stitch top comprising courses composed of inelastic thread the stitches of which floats of materially greater length than the width oflthe needle wales and sinker wales which they displace and spaced courses composed entirely of elastic thread the stitches of which areconnected by floats of a stantially the same as the 'altemate drop stitch the diameter of the fabric v SIJOIJUU length substantially the same as the widthod the needle wales and sinker wales which they displace, said elastic thread being under sumcient tension to straighten out the stitches of said elastic thread course, and draw the adjacent wales of said alternate drop stitch fabric into close proximity to reduce the diameter of the fabric and produce a smooth exterior surface, and an in tegral leg portion of plain knitting formed of in elastic thread having a greater number of stitches in each course as the courses of the top, alternate wales of said leg portion being continuous with wales of the alternate drop stitch top, the stitches of each course of said top and of said leg portion being interknit with a preceding and succeeding course formed of a separate thread.

14. A stocking having a tubular plain knit alternate drop stitch top comprising courses composed of inelastic thread the stitches of which are connected by floats of materially greater length than the width of the needle wales and sinker wales which they displace'and spaced courses composedentirely of elastic thread the stitches of which are connected by floats of a length subwales and sinker wales which they displace, said elastic thread being under sufficient tension to straighten out the stitches of said elastic thread course, and draw the adjacent wales of said alternate drop stitch fabric into close proximity to I reduce the diameter of the fabric and produce a smooth exterior surface, and an integral leg portion of plain knitting formed of inelasticthread having twice the number of stitches in each course as the courses of-the top, alternate wales width of the needle of said leg portion being continuous with wales of the alternate dropstitch top, the stitches, of each course of said top and of said leg portion being interknit with a preceding and succeeding course formed of a separate thread, and said elastic thread projecting on the inner face of said alternate drop stitch fabric top and forming a series of spiral beads to support the leg of the stocking- 15. A stocking having a tubular plain knit alternate drop stitch top comprising courses'comof inelastic thread the stitches of whichposed are connected by floats of materially greater length than the width of the needle wales and sinker wales which they displace and spaced courses composed entirely of elastic thread the stitches of which are connected by floats of a length substantially the same as the width of the needle wales and sinker wales which they dlsplace, said elastic thread being under suflicient tension to straighten out the stitches of said elastic thread course, and draw the adjacent wales of said alternate drop stitch fabric into close proximity to reduce the diameter of the fabric and produce a smooth exterior surface, and an integral leg'portion of plain knitting formed of inelastic thread having twice the number ofstitches in each course as the courses of the top, alternate wales of said leg portion being continuous with wales of the alternate drop stitch top, the stitches of each course of said top and of said leg portion being interknit with a preceding and succeeding course formed of a separate thread, the elastic thread in said alternate drop stitch top lying in substantially straight lines across the fabric, distorting the stitches of the preceding and succeeding courses of inelastic thread and drawing said courses into close proximity.

16. A stocking having a tubular plain knit alternate drop stitch top comprising courses composed of inelastic thread the stitches of which are connected by floats of materially greater length than the width of the needle wales and sinker wales which they displace and spaced courses composed entirely of elastic thread the stitches of which are connected by floats of a length substantially the same as the width of the needle wales and sinker wales which they displace, said elastic thread being under sumcient tension ,to straighten out the stitches of said elastic thread course, and draw the adjacent wales of said alternate drop stitch fabric into close proximity to reduce the diameter of the fabric and produce a smooth exterior surface, and an integral leg portion of plain knitting formed of inelastic thread having twice the number of stitches in each course as the courses of the top, alternate wales of said leg portion being continuous with wales of the alternate drop stitch top, the stitches of each course of said top and of" said leg portion being interknit with a preceding and succeedingcourse formed of a separate thread, the elastic thread in said alternate drop stitch top lying in substantially straight lines across the fabric, distorting the stitches of the preceding and succeeding courses of inelastic thread and drawing said courses into close proximity, and said alternate drop stitch fabric top having additional courses of stitches of inelastic thread between the courses interknit with the elastic thread which are not distorted, and producing an open work effect.

17. A tubular plain knit alternate drop stitch fabric comprising courses composed of inelastic thread the stitches of which are connected by floats of substantially the same length as the length of yarn in the needle wales and sinker wales which they displace and having spaced courses composed entirely of elastic thread the stitches of which are connected by floats of a length substantially the same as the width of the needle wales and sinker wales which they displace, said elastic thread being under suflicient tension to straighten out the stitches of said elastic thread course and draw the adjacent wales of said alternate drop stitch fabric into close proximity to reduce the diameter of the fabric and produce a smooth exterior surface, all of the courses intervening the elastic thread courses being continuous and composed of the same inelastic thread.

18. A tubular plain knit alternate drop stitch fabric comprising courses composed of inelastic thread the stitches of which are connected by floats of substantially the same length as the length of yarn in the needle wales and sinker wales which they displace and having spaced courses composed entirely of elastic thread the stitches of which are connected by floats of a length substantially the same as the width of the needle wales and sinker wales which they displace, said elastic thread being under sufilcient tension to straighten out the stitches of said elastic thread course and draw the adjacent wales of said alternate drop stitch fabric into close proximity to reduce the diameter of the fabric and produce a smooth exterior surface, the elastic thread projecting on the inner face of the fabric and forming a series of spiral beads to support the fabric against longitudinal movement-on a body member, all of the courses intervening the elastic thread courses being continuous and composed oi the same inelastic thread.

19. A tubular plain knit alternate drop stitch fabric comprising courses composed of inelastic thread the stitches of which are connected by floats of materially greater length than the width of the needle wales and sinker wales which they displace and having spaced courses composed entirely of elastic thread under sufficient tension to draw the adjacent wales of said alternate drop stitch fabric into close proximity to reduce the diameter of the fabric and produce a smooth exterior surface, the stitches of the elastic thread courses being interknit with the stitches of a preceding and succeeding course of non-elastic thread, and the elastic thread being straightened out and thereby distorting the stitches of said preceding and succeeding courses and drawing them into close relation in the fabric, all of the courses intervening the elastic thread courses being composed of the'same inelastic thread.

20. A tubular plain knit alternate drop stitch fabric comprising courses composed of inelastic thread the stitches of which are connected by floats of substantially the same length as the length of yarn in the needle wales and sinker. wales which they displace and having spaced courses composed entirely of elastic thread the stitches-of which are connected by floats of a length substantially the same as the width of the needle wales and sinker wales which they displace, said elasticthread being under sufficient tension to straighten out the stitches of said elastic thread course, and draw the adjacent wales of said alternate drop stitch fabric into close proximity to reduce the diameter of the fabric and produce a smooth exterior surface, said fabric having additional undistorted courses of stitches of inelastic thread between the courses which are interknit with the elastic thread and which produce an ornamental open work effect,

all of the courses intervening the elastic thread courses being continuous and composed of the same inelastic thread.

21. A tubular plain knit alternate drop stitch fabric, comprising courses composed of inelastic thread the stitches of which are connected by floats of substantially the same length as the length of yarn in the needle wales and sinker wales which they displace and having spaced courses formed of elastic thread and an inelastic thread, said elastic thread being under sufficient tension to draw the adjacent wales of said fabric into close proximity to reduce the diameter of the fabric and produce a smooth exterior surface.

22. A tubular plain knit alternate drop stitch fabric, comprising courses of inelastic thread the stitches of which are connected by floats of substantially the same length as the length of yarn in the needle wales and sinker wales which they displace and having spaced courses the stitches of which are composed of inelastic and elastic threads in plating relation connected by floats of a length substantially the same asthe width of the needle wales and sinker wales which they displace, the elastic thread being under suificient tension to straighten out the stitches of said elastic thread course, and draw theadjacent wales of said fabric into close proximity to reduce the diameter of the fabric and produce a smooth exterior surface, and said plating thread between the stitches of the courses containing the elastic thread being formed into ornamental loops by the contraction of the elastic thread.

ROBERT EVAN DAVIS, JR.

G. DE VERRY DISPLAY DEVICE Feb. 27 1940.

Filed May 25, 1939 dINVENTOR.

- ATTORNEY. 

